Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban | World news

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("http://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.guardian.co.uk:80/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan","20090730024314","http://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1248921794"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <script type="text/javascript"> document.domain = "guardian.co.uk"; </script> <title> Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban | World news | The Guardian </title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"/> <meta name="description" content="Ministers believe they have created the right conditions for dialogue with 'second-tier' local leaders"/> <link rel="image_src" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/7/27/1248726199216/A-soldier-in-Afghanistan-004.jpg"/> <meta name="DC.date.issued" content="2009-07-27"> <meta name="keywords" content="Taliban,Afghanistan,US foreign policy,World news,Military,UK news,Foreign policy,Politics,World news"/> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20090730024314im_/http://www.guardian.co.uk/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (!commonStaticRoot) { var commonStaticRoot = "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/"; } if (!sectionStaticRoot) { var sectionStaticRoot = "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/world/"; } if (!staticHost) { var staticHost="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/"; } //]]> </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/styles/wide/article-top.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/styles/wide/print.css" media="print"/>    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/styles/wide/high-contrast-common.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/zones/news/styles/wide/high-contrast-section.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/styles/wide/base-typography.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/world/styles/wide/high-contrast-section.css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314cs_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/styles/wide/article-page-typography.css" media="screen"/> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function insertStyleSheet(href) { var styleObject = document.createElement('link'); styleObject.setAttribute('href', commonStaticRoot + href); styleObject.setAttribute('type', 'text/css'); styleObject.setAttribute('media', 'screen'); styleObject.setAttribute('rel', 'stylesheet'); var head = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; head.appendChild(styleObject); } insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/js-on.css'); //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/external-scripts/jquery-1.3.2.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/external-scripts/jquery-libraries/jquery.cookie.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var jQ = jQuery.noConflict(); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/gu.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ function init() { new SearchForm(true, 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://browse.guardian.co.uk', null, 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/websearch' ); urlStack.clearUrlStack(); var signOutLink = document.getElementById("sign-out"); if (signOutLink) { signOutLink.onclick = signOut; } } var thirdPartyReferralCookieService = new guardian.r2.ThirdPartyReferralCookieService(); thirdPartyReferralCookieService.setThirdPartyReferralCookie(); var urlStack = new UrlStack(".guardian.co.uk"); guardian.r2.signInListeners = new guardian.r2.SignInListeners(); (function () { var signInView = new guardian.r2.SignInView("http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/md5.js"); var obfuscationService = new guardian.r2.ObfuscationService(); guardian.r2.signInController = new guardian.r2.SignInController(signInView, guardian.r2.signInListeners, obfuscationService, "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tools/signin"); }) (); (function () { var profileLinkView = new guardian.r2.ProfileLinkView(); profileLinkController = new guardian.r2.ProfileLinkController(profileLinkView, "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/"); }) (); addSafeLoadEvent(init); //]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/pluck-on.css'); } // ]]> </script> </head> <body class="article "> <div id="wrapper"> <script id="hitboxScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("hbx")) { var _hbEC=0,_hbE=new Array;function _hbEvent(a,b){b=_hbE[_hbEC++]=new Object();b._N=a;b._C=0;return b;} var hbx=_hbEvent("pv");hbx.vpc="HBX0250u";hbx.gn="hits.gureport.co.uk"; hbx.acct="DM5506080PEE;DM54102495BW"; hbx.pn="{article}{Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban}{p1254429}"; hbx.mlc="/GU/World+news/Taliban"; hbx.pndef="title"; hbx.ctdef="full"; hbx.fv=""; hbx.lt="manual"; hbx.dlf="n"; hbx.dft="n"; hbx.elf="n"; hbx.seg=""; hbx.fnl=""; hbx.cmp=""; hbx.cmpn=""; hbx.dcmp=""; hbx.dcmpn=""; hbx.dcmpe=""; hbx.dcmpre=""; hbx.hra=""; hbx.hqsr=""; hbx.hqsp=""; hbx.hlt=""; hbx.hla=""; hbx.gp=""; hbx.gpn=""; hbx.hcn=""; hbx.hcv=""; hbx.cp="null"; hbx.cpd=""; hbx.ci='(none)'; hbx.hc1='usa'; hbx.hc2='(none)'; hbx.hc3="The+Guardian"; hbx.hc4="Taliban,Afghanistan+(News),US+foreign+policy,World+news,Military+UK,UK+news,Foreign+policy,Politics"; hbx.hrf=""; hbx.pec=""; var cv=_hbEvent("cv"); cv.c5="Policy+Society,Not+commercially+useful,Mobile+site+keywords"; cv.c6="Richard+Norton-Taylor"; cv.c7="2009_07_28"; generateScriptTag('http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/hbx.js'); } //]]> </script> <noscript id="hitboxNoScript"> <div><img alt="" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://hits.gureport.co.uk/HG?hc=we89&cd=1&hv=6&ce=u&hb=DM5506080PEE;DM54102495BW&n={article}{Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban}{p1254429}&vcon=/GU/World+news/Taliban&seg=&cmp=&gp=&fnl=&pec=&dcmp=&ra=&gn=&cv=&ld=&la=&customerid=(none)&c1=usa&c2=(none)&c3=The+Guardian&c4=Taliban,Afghanistan+(News),US+foreign+policy,World+news,Military+UK,UK+news,Foreign+policy,Politics&c5=&c6=Richard+Norton-Taylor&c7=2009_07_28" width="1" height="1"/></div> </noscript> <script id="omnitureGeneratorScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("omniture")) { var s_account="guardiangu-news,guardiangu-network,guardiandev2"; generateScriptTag('http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/omniture-H.20.3.js'); } //]]> </script> <script id="omnitureScript" type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("omniture")) { s.pageName="Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban:Article:1254429"; s.channel = "World news"; s.pageType=""; s.server='13'; s.prop2='GUID:(none)'; s['prop4']="Taliban,Afghanistan (News),US foreign policy,World news,Military UK,UK news,Foreign policy,Politics"; s['prop6']="Richard Norton-Taylor"; s['prop8']="1254429"; s['prop9']="Article"; s['prop10']="News"; s['prop11']="World news"; s['prop13']=""; s['prop25']=""; s['prop30']="content"; s.hier2="GU/World news/Taliban"; s.events=""; s.eVar23=""; var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code); } //]]> </script> <noscript id="omnitureNoScript"> <div><img alt="" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-news,guardiangu-network,guardiandev2/1/H.20.3/72381?ns=guardian&pageName=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban%3AArticle%3A1254429&ch=World+news&c4=Taliban%2CAfghanistan+%28News%29%2CUS+foreign+policy%2CWorld+news%2CMilitary+UK%2CUK+news%2CForeign+policy%2CPolitics&c6=Richard+Norton-Taylor&c8=1254429&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=World+news&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FWorld+news%2FTaliban&c2=GUID:(none)" width="1" height="1"/></div> </noscript> <div id="video-settings"> <div class="cookied"> <p class="on"><a class="autoplay-off" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay off</a></p> <p class="off"><a class="autoplay-on" href="#skiplinks">Turn autoplay on</a></p> </div> <div class="not-cookied"> <p>Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off</p> </div> </div> <div id="skiplinks"> <ul> <li><a href="#box" accesskey="s">Jump to content [s]</a></li> <li><a href="#start-of-comments" accesskey="c">Jump to comments [c]</a></li> <li><a href="#global-nav" accesskey="0">Jump to site navigation [0]</a></li> <li><a href="#web-search-field" accesskey="4">Jump to search [4]</a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://guardian.co.uk/Users/help/article/0,,933909,00.html" accesskey="8">Terms and conditions [8]</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="header"> <div id="sub-header"> <ul class="user-details"> <li id="sign-in" class="first"><a class="same-page-login-required" href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/signin/tr/1,,-1,00.html" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Signedin}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{1}">Sign in</a></li> <li id="register"><a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/register/1,,-1,00.html" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Register}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{2}" class="register-required">Register</a></li> <li id="mobile"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://m.guardian.co.uk/?id=102202&story=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Mobile version}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{3}">Mobile version</a></li> <li id="larger" class="first">Text <a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Text Larger}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{8}">larger</a></li><li id="smaller"><a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" name="&lid={headerSubHeader}{Text Smaller}&lpos={headerSubHeader}{9}">smaller</a></li> </ul> <div id="topslot"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { var src = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=topslot&comfolder=policysociety&keywords=%2CTaliban%2CAfghanistan%2B%28News%29%2CUS%2Bforeign%2Bpolicy%2CWorld%2Bnews%2CMilitary%2BUK%2CUK%2Bnews%2C&site=News&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Fworld%252F2009%252Fjul%252F27%252Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&rand=-966543114&series=&audioId=350875470&system=audio&tile=1343211&blockVideoAds=false&'; generateScriptTag(src); } //]]> </script> </div> </div> <div id="guardian-logo"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={headerBranding}{Guardian}&lpos={headerBranding}{1}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/zones/news/images/logo.gif" height="22" width="140" alt="guardian.co.uk home"/></a> </div> <form id="search" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/websearch" method="get" onsubmit="return SearchForm(true, 'http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search?search=','http://www.guardian.co.uk/search/users');"> <fieldset id="web-search"> <input type="text" class="text search-field" name="web-search-field" id="web-search-field" value="Search" onclick="if(this.value=='Search')this.value='';else this.select();"/> <label for="sitesearch-radio"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="Location"/></label> <select name="sitesearch-radio"> <option value="guardian" id="search-guardian">guardian.co.uk</option> <option value="World news" id="search-section">World news</option> <option value="web" id="search-web">Web</option> </select> <input type="submit" class="submit sitesearch-submit" value="Search" name="go-guardian" id="go-guardian"/> </fieldset> </form> <div id="zones-nav"> <div id="global-nav"> <ul> <li class="first news"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={globalNav}{guardian.co.uk home}&lpos={trail}{1}">News</a> </li> <li class="sport"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport" name="&lid={globalNav}{Sport home}&lpos={trail}{2}">Sport</a> </li> <li class="comment"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree" name="&lid={globalNav}{Comment is free home}&lpos={trail}{3}">Comment</a> </li> <li class="culture"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture" name="&lid={globalNav}{Culture home}&lpos={trail}{4}">Culture</a> </li> <li class="business"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/business" name="&lid={globalNav}{Business home}&lpos={trail}{5}">Business</a> </li> <li class="money"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/money" name="&lid={globalNav}{Money home}&lpos={trail}{6}">Money</a> </li> <li class="life-style"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle" name="&lid={globalNav}{Life &amp; style}&lpos={trail}{7}">Life & style</a> </li> <li class="travel"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel" name="&lid={globalNav}{Travel home}&lpos={trail}{8}">Travel</a> </li> <li class="environment"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment" name="&lid={globalNav}{Environment}&lpos={trail}{9}">Environment</a> </li> <li class="blogs"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/blog" name="&lid={globalNav}{Guardian blogs | All guardian.co.uk blogposts}&lpos={trail}{10}">Blogs</a> </li> <li class="video"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/multimedia" name="&lid={globalNav}{Multimedia home}&lpos={trail}{11}">Video</a> </li> <li class="users"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/community" name="&lid={globalNav}{Users home}&lpos={trail}{12}">Community</a> </li> <li class="last jobs"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={globalNav}{Jobs}&lpos={trail}{13}">Jobs</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="nav-bar"> <div id="crumb-nav"> <ul> <li id="crumb1"><a class="first-second" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={crumbNavigation}{News}&lpos={crumbNavigation}{1}">News</a></li> <li id="crumb2"><a class="first-second" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world" name="&lid={crumbNavigation}{World news}&lpos={crumbNavigation}{2}">World news</a></li> <li id="crumb3"><a class="first-end" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/taliban" name="&lid={crumbNavigation}{Taliban}&lpos={crumbNavigation}{3}">Taliban</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="box"> <div id="article-header"> <div id="main-article-info"> <h1 id="heading-alone">Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban</h1> </div> <ul id="content-actions"> <li> <div class="pluck-init-block" id="comment-info-related"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan?commentpage=1" class="comment-count-info comment-icon">Comments (<span class="comment-count">…</span>)</a> </div> </li> <li class="third-party-tool "> <a id="buzzlink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzz?publisherurn=the_guardian665&targetUrl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&summary=%3Cp%3EMinisters+believe+they+have+created+the+right+conditions+for+dialogue+with+%27second-tier%27+local+leaders%3C%2Fp%3E&headline=Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban |World news |The Guardian">Buzz up!</a> </li> <li class="third-party-tool"> <a id="digglink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://digg.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban">Digg it</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="content"> <ul class="article-attributes multi-pub"> <li class="byline"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/richardnortontaylor" name="&lid={contentTypeByline}{Richard Norton-Taylor}&lpos={contentTypeByline}{1}">Richard Norton-Taylor</a> </li> <li class="publication"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian" name="&lid={contentTypeByline}{The Guardian}&lpos={contentTypeByline}{2}">The Guardian</a>, Tuesday 28 July 2009 </li> </ul> <div id="article-wrapper"> <div class="image"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/7/27/1248726197433/A-soldier-in-Afghanistan-001.jpg" width="460" height="276" alt="A soldier in Afghanistan"/> <p class="caption">A soldier in Gereshk, Afghanistan. Gordon Brown has signalled the end of the first phase of Operation Panther's Claw, aimed at driving back the Taliban. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Wire</p> </div> <p>A concerted effort to start unprecedented talks between <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/taliban">Taliban</a> and British and American envoys was outlined yesterday in a significant change in tactics designed to bring about a breakthrough in the attritional, eight-year conflict in <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>.</p><p>Senior ministers and commanders on the ground believe they have created the right conditions to open up a dialogue with "second-tier" local leaders now the Taliban have been forced back in a swath of Helmand province.</p><p>They are hoping that Britain's continuing <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/military">military</a> presence in Helmand, strengthened by the arrival of thousands of US troops, will encourage Taliban commanders to end the insurgency. There is even talk in London and Washington of a military "exit strategy".</p><p>Speaking at the end of the five-week Operation Panther's Claw in which hundreds of British troops were reported to have cleared insurgents from a vital region of Helmand province, Lieutenant-General Simon Mayall, deputy chief of defence staff, said: "It gives the Taliban 'second tier' room to reconnect with the government and this is absolutely at the heart of this operation."</p><span class="inline embed embed-media"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ //]]> </script> <noscript> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314oe_/http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="300" height="25" id="audioplayer" align="middle"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/> <param name="movie" value="http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/flash/guMiniPlayer.swf"/> <param name="FlashVars" value="linktext=Julian Borger on the next step in the war in Afghanistan&publication_date=&file=http://download.guardian.co.uk/audio/kip/standalone/world/1248761357907/2220/gdn.new.090728.pm.taliban-afghanistan.mp3&popupurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2009/jul/28/taliban-strategy-afghanistan?popup=true&popupheight=232&popupwidth=500&duration=221&audioid=350875470"/> <param name="quality" value="high"/> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"/> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"/> <embed src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314oe_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/flash/guMiniPlayer.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="300" height="25" name="audioplayer" align="middle" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" flashvars="linktext=Julian Borger on the next step in the war in Afghanistan&publication_date=&file=http://download.guardian.co.uk/audio/kip/standalone/world/1248761357907/2220/gdn.new.090728.pm.taliban-afghanistan.mp3&popupurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2009/jul/28/taliban-strategy-afghanistan?popup=true&popupheight=232&popupwidth=500&duration=221&audioid=350875470"/> </object> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314js_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/eolas_workaround.js"></script> <div id="flash-player"> <script type="text/javascript"> insertAudioPlayer("300", "25", "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/flash/guMiniPlayer.swf", "linktext=Julian Borger on the next step in the war in Afghanistan&publication_date=&file=http://download.guardian.co.uk/audio/kip/standalone/world/1248761357907/2220/gdn.new.090728.pm.taliban-afghanistan.mp3&popupurl=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2009/jul/28/taliban-strategy-afghanistan?popup=true&popupheight=232&popupwidth=500&duration=221&audioid=350875470"); </script> </div> <span class="caption"> Julian Borger: 'There has to be a political solution' <a name="&lid={inBodyAudio}{Link to this audio}&lpos={inBodyAudio}{1}" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2009/jul/28/taliban-strategy-afghanistan">Link to this audio</a> </span> </span><p>The second tier of the insurgency are regarded as crucial because they control large numbers of Taliban fighters in Pashtun-dominated southern Afghanistan. The first tier of Taliban commanders – hardliners around Mullah Omar – could not be expected to start talks in the foreseeable future. The third tier – footsoldiers with no strong commitments – are not regarded as influential or significant players.</p><p>The change in tactics was revealed as the Ministry of Defence announced that two more British soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan. One, from the Light Dragoons, was on patrol in Operation Panther's Claw; the other, a soldier from the Royal Artillery, was killed on foot patrol in Sangin. Ten soldiers have died in Operation Panther's Claw.</p><p>Mayall is responsible for formulating operational policy in Afghanistan and his remarks gave added weight to interventions by senior ministers yesterday.</p><p>David Miliband, the foreign secretary, and Douglas Alexander, the international development secretary, yesterday held out the prospect of reconciliation between the Afghan government and Taliban fighters prepared to renounce violence.</p><p>For more than a year, British intelligence officers have been instigating contacts with Taliban commanders and their entourage. But their task has been very delicate given the sensitivities of the Karzai administration in Kabul.</p><p>The situation has been complicated further by the influx of hardline and ideologically motivated fighters joining the Taliban and other insurgent groups from across the Pakistani border.</p><p>But the fact that senior ministers and military commanders seized on the apparent success of Operation Panther's Claw to highlight the possibility of talks with the Taliban reflects their concern about the lack of progress so far in Nato's counter-insurgency. Significantly, and as if to counter public aversion to talks with the Taliban, ministers and military commanders alike compared the current campaign in southern Afghanistan to anti-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland.</p><p>A ComRes poll in today's Independent suggests most people now believe British troops should be pulled out of Afghanistan. Most of those who responded (58%) said the Taliban could not be defeated militarily, and 52% of those surveyed said troops should be withdrawn immediately. This compares with a Guardian/ICM poll earlier this month which showed that 42% of those surveyed wanted troops to be withdrawn immediately.</p><p>America's priorities in Afghanistan will be spelled out in a briefing paper drawn up by General Stanley McChrystal, the new US commander in the country, due to be handed to Barack Obama tomorrow.</p><p>He will emphasise the need for speeding up the training of Afghan troops, according to defence sources. He is also expected to ask for more troops from Nato allies. British military commanders are drawing up contingency plans to increase the number of British forces to more than 10,000 from the current 9,000.</p><p>Asked whether he needed more troops, Brigadier Tim Radford, commander of British troops in Helmand, replied: "I have enough forces to do what I set out to do in Panther's Claw."</p><p>The number of British troops that might be deployed in future was "out of my hands", he said. But he added that as the number of Afghan army recruits increased, the number of Nato forces required to train them also increased.</p><p>Miliband's call for talks with more moderate Taliban elements was echoed later by Gordon Brown, who said: "Our strategy has always been to complement the military action that we've got to take to clear the Taliban, to threaten al-Qaida in its bases – while at the same time we put in more money to build the Afghan forces, the troops, the police."</p><p><strong></strong><strong> </strong></p> </div> </div> <div id="related"> <ul id="article-toolbox-side"> <li class="printable"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Printer-friendly version}&lpos={pageToolbox}{1}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_print.gif" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon"/><span>Printable version</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sendlink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/350868034" title="Opens an email form" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Email a friend}&lpos={pageToolbox}{2}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_email-friend.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Send to a friend</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sharelink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/share/350868034" title="Opens a share this page in a new window" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Share this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{3}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_share.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Share</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add?r2PageId=1254429" id="clippable" title="Sends this page to your clippings file" class="rollover anchor-based-login-required package-required-YCLD" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Clip this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{4}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_clip.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Clip</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/contactus/350868034" class="rollover contactlink" title="Displays contact data for guardian.co.uk" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Contact us}&lpos={pageToolbox}{5}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_email-us.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Contact us</span></a></li> <li class="resize"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_font.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/> <a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" id="larger-sidebar" title="Increase text size">larger</a> | <a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" id="smaller-sidebar" title="Decrease text size">smaller</a> </li> </ul> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-email"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Email</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-email" href="#send-email">Close</a></span> </div> <div> <form method="post" name="emailthis" id="emailthis" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/350868034"> <fieldset> <div> <label for="to">Recipient's email address</label> </div> <input type="text" name="to" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your first name</label> </div> <input type="text" name="firstName" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your surname</label> </div> <input type="text" name="surname" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="note">Add a note (optional)</label> <br/><span id="warning-side"></span> </div> <textarea name="note" cols="25" rows="5" onkeyup="formCheckerSide(this,250)"></textarea> </fieldset> <div class="inputrow"> <input type="submit" value="Send"/> </div> <p class="ip_logged">Your IP address will be logged</p> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-share"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Share</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-share" href="#send-share">Close</a></span> </div> <ul> <li><a class="digg" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{Digg}">Digg</a></li> <li> <a class="reddit" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{reddit}">reddit</a> </li> <li> <a class="google" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&bkmk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{Google Bookmarks}">Google Bookmarks</a> </li> <li> <a class="twitter" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{Twitter}">Twitter</a> </li> <li> <a class="delicious" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{del.icio.us}">del.icio.us</a> </li> <li> <a class="stumbleupon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{StumbleUpon}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{1}">StumbleUpon</a> </li> <li> <a class="newsvine" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed&save?popoff=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&h=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{Newsvine}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{2}">Newsvine</a> </li> <li> <a class="livejournal" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{livejournal}">livejournal</a> </li> <li> <a class="facebook" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{Facebook}">Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a class="mixx" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.mixx.com/submit?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{Mixx}">Mixx it!</a> </li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="contact"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Contact us</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-contact" href="#contact">Close</a></span> </div> <div class="col first"> <ul> <li> Report errors or inaccuracies: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/mailto:reader@guardian.co.uk">reader@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Letters for publication should be sent to: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/mailto:letters@guardian.co.uk">letters@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col"> <ul> <li> If you need help using the site: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/mailto:userhelp@guardian.co.uk">userhelp@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: <br/><span>+44 (0)20 3353 2000</span> </li> <li> <ul> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/syndication/">License/buy our content</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="relatedlinks" class="capsule"> <h3 class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{World news}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{1}">World news</a></h3> <ul class="relatedlinks-keywords"> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/taliban" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Taliban}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{2}" rel="tag">Taliban</a> · </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Afghanistan}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{3}" rel="tag">Afghanistan</a> · </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/usforeignpolicy" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{US foreign policy}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{4}" rel="tag">US foreign policy</a> </li> </ul> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{UK news}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{5}">UK news</a></h3> <ul class="relatedlinks-keywords"> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/military" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Military}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{6}" rel="tag">Military</a> </li> </ul> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Politics}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{7}">Politics</a></h3> <ul class="relatedlinks-keywords"> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/foreignpolicy" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Foreign policy}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{8}" rel="tag">Foreign policy</a> </li> </ul> <div id="tones"> <h3 class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone/news" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{News}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{9}">More news </a></h3> </div> </div> <div id="manual-trailblock" class="package"> <ul> <li class="first"> <h3>More on this story</h3> </li> <li> <p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/27/miliband-war-afghanistan-taliban-solution" name="&lid={packagesAndManualTrailblock}{David Miliband: give the Taliban fighters alternatives}&lpos={trail}{1}">Miliband: Give the Taliban alternatives</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/afghanistan-military-operation-panthers-claw" name="&lid={packagesAndManualTrailblock}{First phase of Afghanistan military offensive is over}&lpos={trail}{2}">First phase of Afghanistan offensive 'over'</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/27/afghanistan-taliban" name="&lid={packagesAndManualTrailblock}{Beyond the Taliban | Conor Foley}&lpos={trail}{3}">Conor Foley: Beyond the Taliban</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2009/jul/28/afghanistan-henry-vii-michael-white" name="&lid={packagesAndManualTrailblock}{Afghanistan needs a Henry VII}&lpos={trail}{4}">Michael White: Afghanistan needs a Henry VII</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_audio.gif" alt="Audio" class="trail-icon"/> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2009/jul/28/taliban-strategy-afghanistan" name="&lid={packagesAndManualTrailblock}{Julian Borger on the next step in the war in Afghanistan}&lpos={trail}{5}">Analysis: Julian Borger</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/28/mod-appeal-injured-soldiers-compensation" name="&lid={packagesAndManualTrailblock}{MoD to appeal over increased compensation for two injured soldiers}&lpos={trail}{6}">MoD appeals against soldiers' compensation</a> </p> </li> <li> <p> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/28/armed-forces-compensation-scheme" name="&lid={packagesAndManualTrailblock}{The armed forces compensation scheme explained}&lpos={trail}{7}">Armed forces compensation scheme explained</a> </p> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="related-content"> <div class="related-item multi last"> <p class="strap">Related</p> <h5 class="date"> 27 Jul 2009</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/27/panthers-claw-operation-afghanistan-taliban" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Deadly, and maybe decisive. Officers hail Panthers Claw}&lpos={relatedContent}{1}"> Deadly, and maybe decisive. Officers hail Panther's Claw</a> </p> <h5 class="date"> 12 Jul 2009</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/12/obama-praises-britain-taliban" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Obama praises Britains extraordinary fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan}&lpos={relatedContent}{2}"> Obama praises Britain's 'extraordinary' fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan</a> </p> <h5 class="date"> 12 Jul 2009</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/12/afghanistan-taliban-troops-roadside-bombs" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Cruel human toll of fight to win Afghan peace}&lpos={relatedContent}{3}"> Cruel human toll of fight to win Afghan peace</a> </p> <h5 class="date"> 12 Jul 2009</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/12/afghanistan-taliban-troops-emergency-review-ministry-of-defence1" name="&lid={relatedContent}{What should we do next? Military analysts give their views on the conflict in Helmand}&lpos={relatedContent}{4}"> What should we do next? Military analysts give their views on the conflict in Helmand</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> <ul id="article-toolbox"> <li class="printable"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Printer-friendly version}&lpos={pageToolbox}{1}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_print.gif" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon"/><span>Printable version</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sendlink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/350868034" title="Opens an email form" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Email a friend}&lpos={pageToolbox}{2}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_email-friend.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Send to a friend</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover sharelink" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/share/350868034" title="Opens a share this page in a new window" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Share this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{3}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_share.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Share</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add?r2PageId=1254429" id="clippable" title="Sends this page to your clippings file" class="rollover anchor-based-login-required package-required-YCLD" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Clip this content}&lpos={pageToolbox}{4}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_clip.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Clip</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/contactus/350868034" class="rollover contactlink" title="Displays contact data for guardian.co.uk" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Contact us}&lpos={pageToolbox}{5}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_email-us.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Contact us</span></a></li> <li class="article-history"><a href="#" title="View the history of this article" class="rollover historylink" name="&lid={pageToolbox}{Article history}&lpos={pageToolbox}{6}"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/icon_history.gif" alt="" class="trail-icon"/><span>Article history</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-email"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Email</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-email" href="#send-email">Close</a></span> </div> <div> <form method="post" name="emailthis" id="emailthis" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/350868034"> <fieldset> <div> <label for="to">Recipient's email address</label> </div> <input type="text" name="to" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your first name</label> </div> <input type="text" name="firstName" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="name">Your surname</label> </div> <input type="text" name="surname" maxlength="64" value=""/> </fieldset> <fieldset> <div> <label for="note">Add a note (optional)</label> <br/><span id="warning-side"></span> </div> <textarea name="note" cols="25" rows="5" onkeyup="formCheckerSide(this,250)"></textarea> </fieldset> <div class="inputrow"> <input type="submit" value="Send"/> </div> <p class="ip_logged">Your IP address will be logged</p> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="send-share"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Share</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-send-share" href="#send-share">Close</a></span> </div> <ul> <li><a class="digg" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{Digg}">Digg</a></li> <li> <a class="reddit" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{reddit}">reddit</a> </li> <li> <a class="google" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mark?op=edit&bkmk=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{Google Bookmarks}">Google Bookmarks</a> </li> <li> <a class="twitter" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://twitter.com/home?status=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{Twitter}">Twitter</a> </li> <li> <a class="delicious" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://del.icio.us/post?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="lid={share}{del.icio.us}">del.icio.us</a> </li> <li> <a class="stumbleupon" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&title=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{StumbleUpon}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{1}">StumbleUpon</a> </li> <li> <a class="newsvine" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed&save?popoff=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&h=Britain+and+US+prepared+to+open+talks+with+the+Taliban" name="&lid={pageToolboxShare}{Newsvine}&lpos={pageToolboxShare}{2}">Newsvine</a> </li> <li> <a class="livejournal" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.livejournal.com/update.bml?subject=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{livejournal}">livejournal</a> </li> <li> <a class="facebook" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{Facebook}">Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a class="mixx" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.mixx.com/submit?page_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2F2009%2Fjul%2F27%2Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan" name="lid={share}{Mixx}">Mixx it!</a> </li> </ul> <div class="clear"></div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="contact"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>Contact us</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-contact" href="#contact">Close</a></span> </div> <div class="col first"> <ul> <li> Report errors or inaccuracies: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/mailto:reader@guardian.co.uk">reader@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Letters for publication should be sent to: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/mailto:letters@guardian.co.uk">letters@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col"> <ul> <li> If you need help using the site: <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/mailto:userhelp@guardian.co.uk">userhelp@guardian.co.uk</a> </li> <li> Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard: <br/><span>+44 (0)20 3353 2000</span> </li> <li> <ul> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/">Advertising guide</a> </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/syndication/">License/buy our content</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="history-byline" style="width: 460px"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>About this article</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox-history-byline" href="#history-byline">Close</a></span> </div> <div class="section"> <h1>Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban</h1> This article was first published on <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian" name="&lid={historyByline}{The Guardian}&lpos={historyByline}{3}">guardian.co.uk</a> at 01.39 BST on Tuesday 28 July 2009. It appeared in <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian" name="&lid={historyByline}{The Guardian}&lpos={historyByline}{4}">the Guardian</a> on <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/jul/28" name="&lid={historyByline}{The GuardianTuesday 28 July 2009}&lpos={historyByline}{2}">Tuesday 28 July 2009</a> on p1 of the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/jul/28/mainsection/topstories" name="&lid={historyByline}{Top stories}&lpos={historyByline}{1}">Top stories</a> section. It was last updated at 08.25 BST on Tuesday 28 July 2009. </div> </div> </div> <div id="advertiser-container"> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = 'ca-guardian_js'; google_ad_channel = 'Worldnews'; google_max_num_ads = '3'; </script> <div id="google-ads-container" class="capsule advertiser-links" style="display: none;"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("googleadsense")) { generateScriptTag("http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"); } // ]]> </script> </div> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { insertStyleSheet('styles/wide/pluck-on.css'); } // ]]> </script> <div id="pluck-addressed-comment-container" class="pluck-init-block pluck-comments-container"> <h2 id="pluck-addressed-comment-author-info" style="display:none;"> <span id="pluck-addressed-comment-author"></span>'s comment </h2> <div id="pluck-addressed-comment" class="pluck-comment-block"></div> </div> <div id="pluck-container" class="pluck-init-block pluck-comments-container"> <h2 id="start-of-comments">Comments in chronological order <span class="comment-count-info" style="display:none;">(Total <span class="comment-count">comment</span>)</span></h2> <div id="progress-bar" style="display:none"> <p>Loading 0% complete</p> <div><span></span></div> </div> <div id="pluck-loading-dialog" style="display:none;"> <p>Loading comments...<span></span></p> </div> <div id="post-comment-div-top" class="pluck-comment-addComment header" style="display:none;"> <div class="pluck-all-comments"> <p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan?showallcomments=true" title="Click to go to all comments on one page">Go to all comments on one page </a></p> </div> <div class="pluck-comment-post"> <form method="GET" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan?showCommentBox=true" class="post-your-comments"> <input type="button" value="Post a comment" id="open-comment-box-top" name="open-comment-box-top" class="form-based-login-required package-required-RCO"/> <p>In order to post a comment you need to be registered and signed in.</p> <p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://users.guardian.co.uk/register/1,,-720,00.html" name="&lid={pluck/viewComments}{Register}&lpos={pluck/viewComments}{1}" title="Click to register" class="signin register-required">Register</a> | <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://users.guardian.co.uk/signup/tr/1,,-720,00.html" name="&lid={pluck/viewComments}{Signedin}&lpos={pluck/viewComments}{2}" title="Click to sign in" class="signin same-page-login-required package-required-RCO">Sign in</a></p> </form> <div id="top-comment-box-placement" style="display:none;"></div> </div> <div class="pluck-comment-legend"> <ul> <li><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/communities/icons_staff_16.gif" alt="This symbol indicates that that person is The Guardian's staff" title="This symbol indicates that that person is The Guardian's staff"/>Staff</li> <li><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/images/communities/icons_contributor_16.gif" alt="This symbol indicates that that person is a contributor" title="This symbol indicates that that person is a contributor"/>Contributor</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="pluck-pagination-top" style="display:none;"></div> <div id="pluck-comments" class="pluck-comment-block js-hitbox-tracked"></div> <div id="pluck-pagination-bottom" style="display:none;"></div> <div id="post-comment-div-bottom" class="pluck-comment-addComment footer" style="display:none;"> <div class="pluck-all-comments"> <p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan?showallcomments=true" title="Click to go to all comments on one page">Go to all comments on one page </a></p> </div> <div class="pluck-comment-post"> <form method="GET" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan?showCommentBox=true" class="post-your-comments"> <input type="button" value="Post a comment" id="open-comment-box-bottom" name="open-comment-box-bottom" class="form-based-login-required package-required-RCO"/> <p>In order to post a comment you need to be registered and signed in.</p> <p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://users.guardian.co.uk/register/1,,-720,00.html" name="&lid={pluck/viewComments}{Register}&lpos={pluck/viewComments}{3}" title="Click to register" class="signin register-required">Register</a> | <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://users.guardian.co.uk/signup/tr/1,,-720,00.html" name="&lid={pluck/viewComments}{Signedin}&lpos={pluck/viewComments}{4}" title="Click to sign in" class="signin same-page-login-required package-required-RCO">Sign in</a></p> </form> <div id="bottom-comment-box-placement" style="display:none;"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="javascript-off-error"> <h2>Comments</h2> <p>In order to see comments, please turn JavaScript on in your browser.</p> </div> <div class="pluck-off-error"> <h2>Comments</h2> <p>Sorry, commenting is not available at this time. <span>Please try again later.</span></p> </div> <div id="pluck-error-area" style="display:none"> <p>Apologies, something has gone wrong and this action cannot be completed. <span>Please try again later.</span></p> </div> <textarea id="pluck-comments-template" style="display:none;"> {for comment in Comments} {if comment_index == 0 } {var position = "first"} {else} {var position = ""} {/if} <ul class="pluck-content{if comment.IsFeatured && currentUser && currentUser.hasCapability('featureComment')} featured-comment{/if} ${position}"> <li class="pluck-comment"> <div class="pluck-comment-author"> <h3><a href="${userProfileUrlPrefix}/${comment.Author.displayName|toLowerCase}" class="author-profile-picture"> {var srcAttr = 'src="' + comment.Author.photoUrl + '"'} <img ${srcattr} width="28" height="28" alt="${comment.Author.displayName}'s profile picture" title="${comment.Author.displayName}" name="&lid={viewComments}{${comment.Author.displayName}}&lpos={viewComments}{${comment_index}}"/> </a> <a href="${userProfileUrlPrefix}/${comment.Author.displayName|toLowerCase}" name="&lid={viewComments}{${comment.Author.displayName}}&lpos={viewComments}{${comment_index}}"> ${comment.Author.displayName} </a></h3> <p class="posted-time">${comment.PostedAtTime|formatDateTime:MessageTime}</p> </div> <span class="author-tier"> <a class="rollover" title="${comment.Author.userTier}"> {if comment.Author.isStaff} {var srcAttr = 'src="' + staticRoot + 'images/communities/icons_staff_28.gif"'} <img ${srcattr} width="28" height="28" title="${comment.Author.userTier}" alt="${comment.Author.userTier}"/> <span>Staff</span> {elseif comment.Author.isContributor} {var srcAttr = 'src="' + staticRoot + 'images/communities/icons_contributor_28.gif"'} <img ${srcattr} width="28" height="28" title="${comment.Author.userTier}" alt="${comment.Author.userTier}"/> <span>Contributor</span> {else} {/if} </a> </span> {if comment.IsFeatured && currentUser && currentUser.hasCapability('featureComment')} <div style="clear:both; color: orange;"> Featured comment </div> {/if} {if comment.ContentBlockingState != "Unblocked"} <div class="pluck-comment-body comment-blocked"> ${|getCommentBlockedMessage} </div> </li> {else} <div class="pluck-comment-body"> ${comment.CommentBody} </div> </li> <li class="pluck-comment-tools"> <ul id="${comment.CommentKey.Key}"> {if currentUser && currentUser.hasCapability('featureComment')} <li> {if comment.IsFeatured} <a href="javascript:void(0)" title="Feature this comment." class="unfeature">Unfeature</a> {else} <a href="javascript:void(0)" title="Feature this comment." class="feature">Feature</a> {/if} </li> {/if} <li class="recomended"> {if comment.CurrentUserHasRecommended == "False" && !commentRecommendingClosed} <a href="javascript:void(0)" title="Recommend this comment." class="recommend"> {/if} {if commentRecommendingClosed} Recommended {else} Recommend? {/if} {if comment.CurrentUserHasRecommended == "False" && !commentRecommendingClosed} </a> {/if} {if comment.NumberOfRecommendations > 1} <span class="high-recommended">(${comment.NumberOfRecommendations})</span> {else} <span class="normal-recommended">(${comment.NumberOfRecommendations})</span> {/if} </li> <li class="abuse-report"> {if comment.CurrentUserHasReportedAbuse == "True"} Report abuse {else} <a href="javascript:void(0)" title="Report abuse" class="report-abuse">Report abuse </a> {/if} </li> {if !articleInfo.isChalkboard} <li class="clip"><a class="anchor-based-login-required" href="${comment|createClipLinkUrl}" name="&lid={viewComments}{Clip this comment}&lpos={viewComments}{${comment_index}}" title="Clip this comment.">Clip</a> | </li> {/if} <li class="link"><a href="${comment|createCommentLinkUrl}" name="&lid={viewComments}{Link}&lpos={viewComments}{${comment_index}}'" title="Link this comment.">Link</a></li> </ul> </li> {/if} </ul> {/for} </textarea> <textarea id="pluck-single-comment-template" style="display:none;"> <div id="pluck-container" class="pluck-init-block pluck-comments-container"> {var comment = Comments[0]} <ul id="${comment.CommentKey.Key}"> <li class="recomended"> {if comment.CurrentUserHasRecommended == "False" && !commentRecommendingClosed} <a href="javascript:void(0)" title="Recommend this comment." class="recommend"> {/if} {if commentRecommendingClosed} Recommended {else} Recommend? {/if} {if comment.CurrentUserHasRecommended == "False" && !commentRecommendingClosed} </a> {/if} {if comment.NumberOfRecommendations > 1} <span class="high-recommended">(${comment.NumberOfRecommendations})</span> {else} <span class="normal-recommended">(${comment.NumberOfRecommendations})</span> {/if} </li> </ul> <ul class="pluck-content first"> <li class="pluck-comment"> <div class="pluck-comment-author"> <h3><a href="${userProfileUrlPrefix}/${comment.Author.displayName|toLowerCase}" class="author-profile-picture"> {var srcAttr = 'src="' + comment.Author.photoUrl + '"'} <img ${srcattr} width="28" height="28" alt="${comment.Author.displayName}'s profile picture" title="${comment.Author.displayName}" name="&lid={viewComments}{${comment.Author.displayName}}&lpos={viewComments}{0}"/> </a> Chalkboard created by: <a href="${userProfileUrlPrefix}/${comment.Author.displayName|toLowerCase}" name="&lid={viewComments}{${comment.Author.displayName}}&lpos={viewComments}{0}"> ${comment.Author.displayName} </a></h3> <p class="posted-time">${comment.PostedAtTime|formatDateTime:MessageTime}</p> </div> <span class="author-tier"> <a class="rollover" title="${comment.Author.userTier}"> {if comment.Author.isStaff} {var srcAttr = 'src="' + staticRoot + 'images/communities/icons_staff_28.gif"'} <img ${srcattr} width="28" height="28" title="${comment.Author.userTier}" alt="${comment.Author.userTier}"/> <span>Staff</span> {elseif comment.Author.isContributor} {var srcAttr = 'src="' + staticRoot + 'images/communities/icons_contributor_28.gif"'} <img ${srcattr} width="28" height="28" title="${comment.Author.userTier}" alt="${comment.Author.userTier}"/> <span>Contributor</span> {else} {/if} </a> </span> {if comment.ContentBlockingState != "Unblocked"} <div class="pluck-comment-body comment-blocked"> ${|getCommentBlockedMessage} </div> </li> {else} <div class="pluck-comment-body"> ${comment.Author.displayName}'s description: ${comment.CommentBody} </div> </li> <li class="pluck-comment-tools"> <ul id="${comment.CommentKey.Key}"> <li class="abuse-report"> {if comment.CurrentUserHasReportedAbuse == "True"} Report abuse {else} <a href="javascript:void(0)" title="Report abuse" class="report-abuse">Report abuse </a> {/if} </li> {if !articleInfo.isChalkboard} <li class="clip"><a class="anchor-based-login-required" href="${comment|createClipLinkUrl}" name="&lid={viewComments}{Clip this comment}&lpos={viewComments}{0}" title="Clip this comment.">Clip</a> | </li> <li class="link"><a href="${comment|createCommentLinkUrl}" name="&lid={viewComments}{Link}&lpos={viewComments}{0}'" title="Link this comment.">Link</a></li> {/if} </ul> </li> {/if} </ul> </div> </textarea> <textarea id="pluck-pagination-template" style="display:none;"> <ul class="pluck-pagination"> <li class="prev">${prev|generateCommentPageLink:'Previous',urlParams}</li> <li class="next">${next|generateCommentPageLink:'Next',urlParams}</li> {if (renderPageNumbers)} <li class="pages"> <ul> <li class="first">${first|generateCommentPageLink:'First',urlParams}</li> {for pageNumber in pageNumbers} {if (pageNumber == currentPageNumber)} <li class="current">${pageNumber}</li> {else} <li>${pageNumber|generateCommentPageLink:'',urlParams}</li> {/if} {/for} <li class="last">${last|generateCommentPageLink:'Last',urlParams}</li> </ul> </li> {/if} </ul> </textarea> <div style="display:none;"> <div id="comment-box-wrapper" style="display:none;"> <div id="comment-box-pluck"> <div class="comment-author"> <ul> <li class="comment-author-img"><img id="user-image" width="28" height="28"/></li> <li class="comment-author-name">Logged in as <strong id="user-name"></strong> <a id="sign-out-link" href="#" title="click here to log out">click here to log out</a> </li> <li class="author-role"></li> </ul> </div> <div id="comment-box-edit"> <div id="blockquote-button"> <input id="add-blockquotes" type="button" value="blockquote"/> <input id="add-bolds" type="button" value="bold"/> <input id="add-italics" type="button" value="italic"/> <input id="add-links" type="button" value="link"/> <p>You have <span id="chars-left"></span> characters left</p> </div> <fieldset> <textarea rows="16" cols="50" id="comment-body" name="comment-body"></textarea> </fieldset> <div id="submit"> <p class="msg">Please read our <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/talkpolicy" id="community-standards-link">community standards</a>.</p> <p><input type="submit" disabled="true" value="Post your comment" id="submit-comment" name="submit-comment"/></p> </div> </div> <div id="comment-box-progress" style="display:none;"> <p>Loading...............</p> </div> <div id="comment-close-confirmation-area"> <p>Closing this window without pressing "Post your comment" will result in your words being lost. <br/> Are you sure? <input type="button" value="Yes, close" id="comment-close-confirm"/> <input type="button" value="No, return to text" id="comment-close-cancel"/> </p> </div> <div id="comment-premoderation-area"> <p>Thank you for your comment. This has been submitted for moderation. <input type="button" value="Close" id="comment-premoderation-close"/> </p> </div> <div id="comment-thank-you-area"> <p>Your comment has been successfully posted.</p> <input type="button" id="comment-again" value="Comment again"> </div> <div id="comment-pluck-error-area"> <p>Sorry, something has gone wrong and this action cannot be completed. <span>Please try again later.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="abuse-box-wrapper" style="display:none;"> <div id="abuse-box"> <p id="abuse-box-close"><a href="javascript:void(0)" title="Close">Close</a></p> <div> <h2>Abuse report</h2> </div> <div id="abuse-box-edit-area"> <p><label for="abuse-reason">Please choose a problem:</label></p> <select id="abuse-reason"> <option value="" selected>Choose one</option> <option value="Personal abuse">Personal abuse</option> <option value="Off topic">Off topic</option> <option value="Legal issue">Legal issue</option> <option value="Trolling">Trolling</option> <option value="Hate speech">Hate speech</option> <option value="Offensive/Threatening language">Offensive/Threatening language</option> <option value="Copyright">Copyright</option> <option value="Spam">Spam</option> <option value="Other">Other</option> </select> <p><label for="abuse-description">Comment: <span id="abuse-description-optional">(optional)</span></label></p> <textarea rows="4" cols="50" id="abuse-description"></textarea> <p>You have <span id="abuse-chars-left">5000</span> characters left</p> <div id="abuse-login-info"> <p>Logged in as <strong id="abuse-user-name"></strong></p> </div> <div id="abuse-email-info"> <p><label for="abuse-email">Your email address: <span>(optional)</span></label></p> <input type="text" id="abuse-email"/> </div> <p id="abuse-submit-container"> <input type="button" disabled="true" id="abuse-submit" value="Report"/> </p> </div> <div id="abuse-progress-area"> <p>Loading...............</p> </div> <div id="abuse-close-confirmation-area"> <p>Closing this window without pressing "Report" will result in your words being lost. <br/> Are you sure? <input type="button" value="Yes, close" id="abuse-close-confirm"/> <input type="button" value="No, return to text" id="abuse-close-cancel"/> </p> </div> <div id="abuse-thank-you-area"> <p>Thank you <input type="button" value="Close" id="abuse-close-thank-you"/> </p> </div> <div id="abuse-pluck-error-area"> <p>Sorry, something has gone wrong and this action cannot be completed. <span>Please try again later.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="promo">  <div id="intrusive"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { buildIntrusiveAd('http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://ads.guardian.co.uk', 'broadband', '-2042635893', 'policysociety', '%2CTaliban%2CAfghanistan%2B%28News%29%2CUS%2Bforeign%2Bpolicy%2CWorld%2Bnews%2CMilitary%2BUK%2CUK%2Bnews%2C', '%252Fworld%252F2009%252Fjul%252F27%252Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan', 'News', 'article', 'false'); } //]]> </script> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = 'ca-guardian_js'; google_ad_channel = 'Worldnews'; google_max_num_ads = '3'; </script> <div id="google-ads-container" class="capsule advertiser-links" style="display: none;"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("googleadsense")) { generateScriptTag("http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"); } // ]]> </script> </div> <div class="related-content"> <h3 class="first" id="relatedInformation">Related information</h3> <div id="keyword-rule-wrapper"> <div class="relatedlinks" class="capsule"> <h3 class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{World news}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{1}">World news</a></h3> <ul class="relatedlinks-keywords"> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/taliban" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Taliban}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{2}" rel="tag">Taliban</a> · </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/afghanistan" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Afghanistan}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{3}" rel="tag">Afghanistan</a> · </li> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/usforeignpolicy" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{US foreign policy}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{4}" rel="tag">US foreign policy</a> </li> </ul> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{UK news}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{5}">UK news</a></h3> <ul class="relatedlinks-keywords"> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/military" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Military}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{6}" rel="tag">Military</a> </li> </ul> <h3><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Politics}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{7}">Politics</a></h3> <ul class="relatedlinks-keywords"> <li> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/foreignpolicy" name="&lid={inlineKeyword}{Foreign policy}&lpos={inlineKeyword}{8}" rel="tag">Foreign policy</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="related-item"> <p class="thumb"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2009/jul/27/david-miliband-afghanistan-talks" name="&lid={relatedContent}{David Miliband delivers speech on Afghanistan at Nato HQ}&lpos={relatedContent}{1}"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/07/27/Miliband_thumb.jpg" alt="David Miliband speaking at NATO HQ on Afghanistan"/></a> </p> <p class="linktext "> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2009/jul/27/david-miliband-afghanistan-talks" name="&lid={relatedContent}{David Miliband delivers speech on Afghanistan at Nato HQ}&lpos={relatedContent}{2}">David Miliband delivers speech on Afghanistan at Nato HQ</a> <p class="trailtext"> <span class="date">27 Jul 2009: </span> <p>'The badlands between Afghanistan and Pakistan are al-Qaida's incubator of choice,' says foreign secretary</p> </p> <div class="related-footer"> <a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/video" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Video home}&lpos={relatedContent}{3}">More video</a> </div> </p> </div> <div class="related-item multi"> <h5 class="date"> 5 Jul 2009</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/05/editorial-afghanistan-war-strategy" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Weve lost sight of our goal in Afghanistan | Editorial }&lpos={relatedContent}{1}"> We've lost sight of our goal in Afghanistan | Editorial </a> </p> <h5 class="date"> 5 May 2009</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/may/05/pakistan-afghanistan-taliban-nuclear" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Pakistans doomsday scenario | Robert Fox}&lpos={relatedContent}{2}"> Pakistan's doomsday scenario | Robert Fox</a> </p> <h5 class="date"> 18 Sep 2008</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/18/nato.afghanistan" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Defence: Nato must transform to beat Taliban - Browne}&lpos={relatedContent}{3}"> Defence: Nato must transform to beat Taliban - Browne</a> </p> <h5 class="date"> 26 Jan 2008</h5> <p class="linktext"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jan/26/politics.military" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Britain defends its troops against criticism by Afghan president}&lpos={relatedContent}{4}"> Britain defends its troops against criticism by Afghan president</a> </p> </div> <div class="related-item last"> <p class="thumb"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/dec/22/afghanistan-lashkar-gah" onclick="return openGalleryPopup('http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/dec/22/afghanistan-lashkar-gah', 696);" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Life in Lashkar Gah}&lpos={relatedContent}{1}"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/12/22/1229950616570/Young-religious-students--003.jpg" alt="Young religious students in a madrassa in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan"/></a> </p> <p class="linktext "> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/dec/22/afghanistan-lashkar-gah" onclick="return openGalleryPopup('http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/dec/22/afghanistan-lashkar-gah', 696);" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Life in Lashkar Gah}&lpos={relatedContent}{2}">Life in Lashkar Gah</a> <p class="trailtext"> <span class="date">22 Dec 2008: </span> <p><strong>Ghaith Abdul-Ahad</strong> photographs life in Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan</p> </p> <div class="related-footer"> <a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/inpictures" name="&lid={relatedContent}{Gallery home}&lpos={relatedContent}{3}">More galleries</a> </div> </p> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <ul id="footer-links"> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://syndication.guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{License/buy our content}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{1}">License/buy our content</a> | </li> <li><a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/help/article/0,,933905,00.html" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Privacy policy}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{2}">Privacy policy</a> | </li> <li><a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Users/help/article/0,,933909,00.html" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Terms/conditions}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{3}">Terms & conditions</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Advertising guide}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{4}">Advertising guide</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/accessibility" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Accessibility}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{5}">Accessibility</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/index/subjects/a" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{A-Z index}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{6}">A-Z index</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/insideguardian" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Inside guardian.co.uk blog}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{7}">Inside guardian.co.uk blog</a> | </li> <li><a href="/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/Guardian/information/0,,711853,00.html" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{About guardian.co.uk}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{8}">About guardian.co.uk</a> | </li> <li><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://dating.guardian.co.uk/s/" name="&lid={areas/common/footer}{Join our dating site today}&lpos={areas/common/footer}{9}">Join our dating site today</a></li> </ul> <ul id="copyright-links"> <li>guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2009</li> </ul>  <form id="section-selector" method="post" action="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/redirect/1,,,00.html"> <fieldset> <label for="go-to">Go to: </label> <select id="go-to" name="Url"> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk home</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk">UK news</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world">World news</option> <option value="http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/index.html?gusrc=gpd">Comment is free blog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog">Newsblog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog">Sport blog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/cultureblogs/roundup">Arts & Entertainment blog</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/audio">Audio & podcasts</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/inpictures">In pictures</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/video">Video</option> <option value="http://browse.guardian.co.uk/search">Archive search</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture">Arts & entertainment</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books">Books</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business">Business</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education">EducationGuardian.co.uk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment">Environment</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/film">Film</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</option> <option value="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/">Jobs</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/katine">Katine appeal</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle">Life & style</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media">MediaGuardian.co.uk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/money">Money</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music">Music</option> <option value="http://observer.guardian.co.uk">The Observer</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics">Politics</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/science">Science</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/shopping">Shopping</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society">SocietyGuardian.co.uk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/index/talk/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Talk</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology">Technology</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel">Travel</option> <option value="http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Been there</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/emailservices/0,,1368460,00.html">Email services</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/index/subjects/a">Special reports</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian">The Guardian</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/series/northerner">The Northerner</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/series/wrap">The Wrap</option> <option value="http://adinfo-guardian.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Advertising guide</option> <option value="http://www.ogenterprises.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Compare finance products</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/crossword/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Crossword</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedback/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Feedback</option> <option value="http://www.guardiangardencentre.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Garden centre</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/pressoffice/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">GNM Press Office</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/graduate/0,,1777545,00.html">Graduate</option> <option value="http://www.guardianbookshop.co.uk/BerteShopWeb/home.do?gusrc=gpd">Bookshop</option> <option value="http://www.guardianecostore.co.uk/guardian/default.aspx?gusrc=gpd">Guardian Ecostore</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/guardianfilms">Guardian Films</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/headlineservice/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Headline service</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/gu_contacts/0,,180767,00.html">Help / contacts</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/information/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Information</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/values/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Living our values</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/newsroom/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Newsroom</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Notes & Queries</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/promotions">Promotions</option> <option value="http://www.guardianoffers.co.uk/mall/GuardianOffers/?gusrc=gpd">Reader Offers</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/page/readerseditor">Readers' editor</option> <option value="http://dating.guardian.co.uk/s/?gusrc=gpd">Soulmates dating</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide">Style guide</option> <option value="http://syndication.guardian.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Syndication services</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/bookatrip">Travel offers</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/TV/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">TV listings</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/weather">Weather</option> <option value="http://www.gnmcareers.co.uk/fe/tpl_GuardianNews01.asp">Working for us</option> <option value="http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Guardian Weekly</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/public/0,,,00.html?gusrc=gpd">Public</option> <option value="http://www.learnthings.co.uk/">Learn</option> <option value="http://www.guardian.backissuenewspapers.co.uk/default.aspx?gusrc=gpd">Guardian back issues</option> <option value="http://www.observer.backissuenewspapers.co.uk/default.aspx?gusrc=gpd">Observer back issues</option> <option value="http://guardianprofessional.co.uk/?gusrc=gpd">Guardian Professional</option> </select> <input type="submit" value="Go"/> </fieldset> </form> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if (isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { serverUrl = "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://sitelife.guardian.co.uk/ver1.0/Direct/Process"; generateScriptTag("http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/pluck.js"); } // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { ensurePackage("guardian.r2.pluck"); guardian.r2.pluck.PluckApplicationContext.getInstance = (function () { var profilePageUser = { id : "", name : "", pageUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/" }; var loggedOnUser = { id : "", name : "" }; var articleInfo = { articleId : "350868034", pageUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan", pageTitle : "Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban", sectionKeyWordId : "9234", sectionName : "World news", commentingClosed : false , commentRecommendingClosed: false , premoderation : false , isChalkboard : false }; var chalkboardInfo = { articleId : "", pageUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/27/britain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan", pageTitle : "Chalkboard", sectionKeyWordId : "9234", sectionName : "World news", commentingClosed : false, commentRecommendingClosed: false, premoderation : false, isChalkboard : true }; var filmInfo = { filmKey : 'Film:' }; var env = { pageId : "1254429", commentsSignUpUrl : 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://users.guardian.co.uk/signup/tr/1,,-720,00.html', cookieDomain : '.guardian.co.uk', staticRoot : 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/', userProfileUrlPrefix : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users", addClippingsUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/users/clippings/add", commentDataUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/external/commentdata/keywords", topKeywordsUrl : "http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://www.guardian.co.uk/external/users/topkeywords" }; var parameters = { commentPage : 1 , scrollToComments : false , showAllComments : null , commentId : null , goToLastComment : false , showCommentBox : false , isEditProfilePage : ( false ), searchString : ( null ) }; if(document.location.hash === '#allcomments') { parameters.showAllComments = true; } var serverData = { articleInfo : articleInfo, chalkboardInfo : chalkboardInfo, filmInfo : filmInfo, env : env, profilePageUser : profilePageUser, parameters : parameters, loggedOnUser : loggedOnUser }; var ctx = new guardian.r2.pluck.PluckApplicationContext(serverData); return function(){ return ctx; }; })(); } // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> // <![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("pluck")) { var ctx = guardian.r2.pluck.PluckApplicationContext.getInstance(); ctx.buildControllers("PluckCommentCountController, CommentPopupWindowController, FeaturedCommentsController, PluckCommentController, PluckCommentAbuseBoxController, PluckCommentBoxController, PluckRecommendationController") } // ]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("revsci")) { ensurePackage("guardian.r2.revsci"); guardian.r2.revsci.cookieDomain = '.guardian.co.uk'; guardian.r2.revsci.gu_geo_country = 'usa'; guardian.r2.revsci.siteName = 'World news'; guardian.r2.revsci.commercialFolder = 'Policy+Society' addEvent(null, 'load', function () { importScript('http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://js.revsci.net/gateway/gw.js?csid=E05516', function() { importScript('http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/revsci.js', function() { rs_initTracking(); }, 1) }, 1) }); } // ]]> </script> <noscript> <div><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314im_/http://pix01.revsci.net/E05516/a3/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/noscript.gif" alt=""/></div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("sophusthree")) { addEvent(null, 'load', function () { importScript("http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/77051/common/scripts/sophusThree-tracking.js", function() {}); }); } // ]]> </script> <div id="cookie"> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if(isExternalSystemOn("displayads")) { var src = 'http://web.archive.org/web/20090730024314/http://ads.guardian.co.uk/js.ng/spacedesc=cookie&comfolder=policysociety&keywords=%2CTaliban%2CAfghanistan%2B%28News%29%2CUS%2Bforeign%2Bpolicy%2CWorld%2Bnews%2CMilitary%2BUK%2CUK%2Bnews%2C&site=News&bandwidth=broadband&url=%252Fworld%252F2009%252Fjul%252F27%252Fbritain-us-talks-taliban-afghanistan&rand=1607656871&series=&audioId=350875470&system=audio&blockVideoAds=false&'; generateScriptTag(src); } //]]> </script> </div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Britain and US prepared to open talks with the Taliban | World news | The Guardian